magicJack beats Philadelphia in Women's Professional Soccer

BOCA RATON — The crowd was smaller, the field was slightly wider, but the result was the same for the magicJack women's team Sunday afternoon at FAU's soccer field.

One week after a season-opening win in its Women's Professional Soccer debut, magicJack made it two straight with a 2-1 defeat of the Philadelphia Independence before about 500 fans.

Abby Wambach scored magicJack's first goal and assisted on the second by late sub Lisa DeVanna, whose header in the 75th minute came one minute after she had entered the match. Tina DiMartino scored for Philadelphia (0-1-1, 1 point) in the eighth minute, her second goal this season. MagicJack (2-0-0, 6 points) hosts the Atlanta Beat at 4 p.m.next Sunday at FAU.

MagicJack pressured for the win late, replacing defender Tina Ellertson with DeVanna in the 74th minute. DeVanna's first touch provided the winner as she rose to nod a Wambach cross past keeper Nicole Barnhart.

Attempts to speak to the magicJack principals involved in the win -- Wambach, DeVanna and head coach Mike Lyons -- were denied by the team's owner, Dan Borislow, who violated league policy in preventing postgame interviews.

"It is league policy that any request to speak to players after a game be met by the team," WPS spokeswoman Crystal Fukumoto said.

The announced attendance was 1,008, though the crowd appeared to be no more than half of the 1,224 who attended last week's season opener. Another difference besides a dip in ticket sales was the width of the field, which grew from 63 yards to the league minimum of 66 yards.

Philadelphia pressured early, forcing a save from magicJack keeper Hope Solo on a shot by Amy Rodriguez just 30 seconds in. Solo was beaten inside her right post moments later on a skipping drive by DiMartino, who first-timed a shot from 20 yards. Rodriguez assisted on the goal with a chest trap of a cross from Halmfridur Magnusdottir.

Wambach equalized in the 25th minute by outjumping the Independence defense to head a long free kick from Christie Rampone into the far side netting. MagicJack was awarded a penalty kick in the 33rd minute on a hand ball in the penalty area by Philadephia defender Nikki Krzysik. Wambach took the kick, but was stopped on a shot that goalkeeper Barnhart cradled in her midsection.